By Samuel Ajayi | Agora Policy, in partnership with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CFTPI), hosted a policy conversation on 10^th December 2024 in Abuja.

Themed The State of Anticorruption Policy and Practice in Nigeria, the event was supported by the MacArthur Foundation and attended by over 150 participants drawn from public service, civil society, diplomatic and development organisations, academia, and youth groups. Ms. Ojobo Atuluku, Board Chair of Agora Policy, delivered the welcome address, highlighting the organisation’s commitment to promoting transparency and accountability, particularly through its 2023 policy report on strengthening Nigeria’s anticorruption frameworks. In his opening remarks, Dr. Kole Shettima, Africa Director of the MacArthur Foundation, emphasized that corruption hampers Nigeria’s development and requires collective effort to address.

Goodwill messages were delivered by Dr. Richard Montgomery, British High Commissioner to Nigeria; Hon. Peter Akpanke, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Financial Crimes; Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director General of the National Orientation Agency; Deborah Isser, Lead Governance Specialist at the World Bank; and Mrs. Adejoke Liman, Director of Planning, Policy, and Research at the EFCC, who represented the EFCC Chairman. The event also featured artistic expressions, including a thought-provoking dance drama by the Arojah Royal Theatre Group and spoken-word poetry by three young poets. Both sets of performances underscored the societal impact of corruption and the power of citizen action.

The event’s keynote address was delivered by Prof. Adele Jinadu, a Senior Fellow at CDD, who called for a cultural shift toward integrity and accountability while denouncing the abuse of incumbency powers. A panel session moderated by Dr. Osasuyi Dirisu, Executive Director of the Policy Innovation Centre, featured: Dr. Abdullahi Bello, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau; Barr. Muhuyi Magaji, Chairman of the Kano State Anticorruption Commission; Dr. Leena Hoffman, Associate Fellow at Chatham House; Dr. Chido Onumah, Board Chairman of the Whistleblowing International Network; and Mrs. Feranmi Iyanda, Director of Programmes at Step-Up Nigeria. The panellists provided insights into the structural and cultural barriers to tackling corruption while offering actionable strategies for improvement. The interactive session included questions from the audience, reflecting diverse perspectives and a shared resolve to strengthen Nigeria’s anticorruption systems.

Some of the prominent attendees included Ms. Lilian Ekeanyanwu, Anti-Corruption Consultant at UNODC; Imam Fouad Adeyemi, Chief Missioner of Al-Habibiyah Islamic Movement; Mr. Olusegun Elemo, Executive Director of PLSI; Jehanzeb Khan, Illicit Finance Adviser at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office; and Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, Chairman of ThisDay Editorial Board. The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Dr. Umar Yakubu, Executive Director of CFTPI, who commended the robust deliberations and reaffirmed the collective commitment to promoting transparency and accountability in Nigeria.

From L-R, Mr Chris Okeke (Senior Governance Adviser, Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office) Ms. Damola Oyedele, (Senior Political Adviser, British High Commission), Mr Jehanzeb Khan (Illicit Finance Adviser, Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office) and Dr Richard Montgomery (British High Commissioner to Nigeria)

L-R Debbie Isser (Lead Governance Specialist, World Bank), Dr Abdullahi Bello (Chairman, Code of Conduct Bureau)

L-R Jehanzeb Khan, Illicit Finance Advisor Foreign Commonwealth Development Office and Imam Fouad Adeyemi, Chief Imam of Alhabibiyyah Mosque

L-R Dr Garuba Dauda (Executive Director of CDD) and Dr Chido Onumah (Board Chairman, Whistleblowing International Network)

L-R Ms Ojobo Atuluku(Agora Board Chair) and Dr Richard Montgomery (British High Commissioner to Nigeria)

Dr Kole Shettima, Africa Director of MacArthur Foundation, delivering the opening remarks

L-R Dr Abdullahi Bello (Chairman, Code of Conduct Bureau), Barr Muhuyi Magaji (Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anticorruption Commission)

Dr Richard Montgomery, British High Commissioner in Nigeria, delivering his goodwill message

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Hon Peter Akpanke, the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Financial Crimes delivering his goodwill message

Mallam. Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director General of the National Orientation Agency

Mrs. Adejoke Liman the Director of Planning, Policy, and Research of the EFCC representing the EFCC chairman Mr Olanipekun Olukoyede

Dr. Mary Okpe sharing the highlights from the Agora report on Nigeria’s transparency and accountability measures

Prof Adele Jinadu delivering his keynote address

Dr Osasuyi Dirisu moderating the panel session

Cross-section of the panellists discussing the topic of the day. From L-R. Dr. Leena Hoffman (Associate Fellow at Chatham House, joining virtually), Dr Chido Onumah (Board Chairman of the Whistleblowing International Network), Mrs. Feranmi Iyanda (Director of Programmes, Step-Up Nigeria), Barr Muhuyi Magaji (Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anticorruption Commission), Dr. Abdullahi Bello (chairman of the CCB).

Dr Umar Yakubu(Executive Director Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity) delivering the vote of thanks.

Cross-section of attendees at the event